Control switch for two-filament lamps



June 16, 1936. c, s MCGILL ET AL r 2,044,317

CONTROL SWITCHFOR TWO-FILAMENT LAMPS Filed Jan. 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 16, 1936. c. s. MOGILL ET AL 2&4433? CONTROL SWITCH FOR TWOFILAMENT LAMPS 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CVcdrZesJ/VZGZZZ arzd EZLC/UZ P0 f6 Patented June 16, 1936 UNH'E'ED STATE PATENT :oFfF eE Charles S. McGill and Rudolf Popp, Valparaiso,

Ind., assignors to McGill Manufacturing Company, Valparaiso, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application January 12, 1934, Serial No; 706,440"

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to switches and has to do more particularly with control switches and mountings therefor adapted for suspension from a ceiling canopy or similar fixture for controlling lamps suspended therefrom.

More particularly, our invention is directed to the provision of a control switch for a two filament lamp, adapted to be interposed between the ceiling canopy and the lamp suspending chain so 1-1) that the wiring may be extended down from the canopy through the switches to the lamp for independent control of the lamp filaments. For a better understanding of our invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in l; which;

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of switch mounting and two switches mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a right hand view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an assembled view of the canopy and switches with the wiring therefor;

Fig. 4 is a modified form of my invention" in which the switch bracket is rigidly secured to the fastening hub;

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram showing one method of connecting the switches to the lamp filaments;

Fig. 6 is a modified form of switch mounting;

Fig. '7 is a top view of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a right end view of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the switch mounting; and

Fig. 10 shows the switch suspended from a ceiling canopy,

Referring now, more in general, to the preferred use of our invention, it is applicable to the two filament type of lamp so that either filament may be controlled independently of the other whereby either one or the other filament may be cut in or out or both at the same time. This is particularly useful in lamps of this character in which so one filament may be of a comparatively low wattage and the other of high wattage, whereby three lighting efiects may be secured, either one filament or the other, or both together. Switches for controlling such filaments have been suggested in which one filament may be cut in after the other or both together, but in such switches, if number one filament is cut in and it is desired to cut it out, the switch must be turned through the second filament which may be of a higher wattage before the lamp is turned on. Also in such case, the switch must also travel through the three points cutting in both filaments before they are cut off. Thus in such a control, not only is there delay, but a great waste of current.

Lamps of this type are mostly of high candle power and high wattage so there is considerable heating in the base and thereforeit isobjectionable to have a switch in the base or so close thereto that the heat affects the efiicien'cy of the switch and renders it inoperative. Furthermore such switches must be of a special construction to take the'high wattage and control the filaments.

These various objections are overcome by our improved arrangement. One of the features of our'inventionpermits-the use of standardpullchain switchessuch as are ordinarily carried in stock so that the purchaser or dealer need only secure the specialmounting and apply the standard switches, which switches are used for regular control purposes. tion is the saving in cost and installation, the saving in current and the simplified and direct con" trol of the filaments.- Furthermore, where two standard switches are employed,- if one switch fails, that only need be replaced instead ofanexpensive double unit. Furthermore, if one switch fails,- the system is out of order but leaves the other switchand lamp filament for use.

Referring now more indetail to the preferred forms of our invention, we employ a suspending frame as A having portions as 6 and I shaped to receive switches as 8 and 9 which in the present case are the well known Levolier switches. Tht ends of the mounting A are provided with suit able suspending means for attaching it to a canopy or other ceiling or wall mounting, and suspending a lamp-supporting chain therefrom and to this end, we have provided hook portions 10, l I. In Fig. 3, we have shown this bracket suspended from the canopy I3 with the lamp suspending link l4 hooked into the lower end.

The switches 8, 9 are secured to the bracket A. which in the present instance is of an S-shapi by suitable openings extending through the wall so that the threaded neck of the switch is passed therethrough and the switch clamped to the bracket by the nut l5.

In this form of bracket, the support is formed from a metallic strip and so shaped that the switch bodies are substantially in alignment with the supporting ends it, I I. By this construction, not only is a more symmetrical appearance presented, as is brought out in Fig. 3, but also the parts are carried in vertical alignment and are maintained therein.

In Fig. 4 we have shown a modified form of mounting in which the portion A is secured to and carried by an end suspending and attaching hub I6 which is threaded so that it may screw onto a nipple coming down from the can- Another feature ofour inven- .1

opy. The support member A may be cast integral with the hub [6 or the portion A made of a metallic strip and cast into the hub I6 or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Suitable openings are provided in the hub I6 to permit the wiring. to drop down to be secured to the switches.

In Fig. 5 we have shown a wiring diagram with two switches 8 and 9 connected to the line and the leads from the switches extending down to the terminals l1, 19 of the lamp socket and the one-line conductor connected to the third contact I8 of the lamp socket. In-lamps of this character, three terminals are usually provided consisting of the outside screw shell, a center contact and an annular ring contact around the center contact. The lamp 20 is shown with high and low filaments 2|, 22.

Thus, with this circuit arrangement, if the low filament 21 is desired, it is only necessary to pull the switch 8 to turn it on and off. If the high filament 22 alone is desired, it is only nee-- switch between the canopy or other mounting and,

the lamp suspending means and then wire it up accordingly. The wiring diagram is shown in Fig. 5 and the wiring itself is illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the form of our invention shown in Figs. '7 to 10, we employ an integral sheet metal mounting A having a central flatbody portion 23 with cars: 24, 25 extending from opposite edges of the body andin opposite directions with suitable openings therein so that the switches 26, 21 may be mounted back to back against the fiat body portion providing a very compact switch arrangement. The mounting has upper and lower hook portions 28, 29 adapted to hook into the chain links or the canopy spindle so as to interpose the switch between the canopy and the lamp suspended therefrom. Thus the mounting may be readily placed in position and. the switches wired, as indicated in the circuit diagram Fig. 5.

Although we have shown preferred forms of our invention, we contemplate employing it in other ways, such as will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and therefore we do not desire to be limited to the structures shown and described, but aim to cover all that which comes T;-

within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A suspending mounting for lamp control switches comprising a fiat metallic strip having attaching. means at one end for suspending the strip from a ceiling fixture and attaching means at the other end for suspending a lamp support therefrom, said attaching means being in substantial vertical alignment when the strip is suspended, the intermediate portion of the strip being formed S-shaped to receive a pair of pullchain switches upon opposite sides thereof with the body portions of the switches in substantial as to stand in vertical alignment, a pair of switches for mounting on the body portion, and a hook portion at each end of the body to suspend one end from a canopy and to suspend a lamp support from the other end.

CHARLES S. MCGILL. RUDOLF POPP. 

